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A regal menu for that 'Game of Thrones' premiere

Jackie Burrell, Contra Costa Times

Posted:
03/27/2013 05:24:11 PM EDT

Updated:
03/27/2013 05:24:14 PM EDT

A lavish spread of "Game of Thrones" inspired dishes adorned the House of Baratheon Skewer Station during the red carpet season premiere festivities at San Francisco's Palace of Fine Arts. The skewers and other dishes were created by Taste catering executive chef Chris Borges. (James Hall Photography)

The chefs at Taste Catering pulled out all the stops last week for the red-carpet premiere of "Game of Thrones" at San Francisco's Palace of Fine Arts. Fans of the HBO series and George R.R. Martin's books cheered as the author, showrunnners, directors and stars -- including Kit Harington (Jon Snow), Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark) and Michelle Fairley (Catelyn Stark) -- swept in to watch the Season 3 premiere episode with them in a red-draped theater.

We can't get Jaime Lannister to your "Thrones" viewing party when the new season kicks off Sunday, but we picked up plenty of menu ideas for you at the premiere afterparty.

The popular series may be known for its medieval blood, gore and intrigue, but there is no shortage of culinary inspiration in Westeros. Just ask Taste Catering executive chef Chris Borges, whose team passed platters of Bran Stark-inspired rustic hand pies stuffed with Marin Sun Farms beef picadillo, Night's Watch treacle-glazed chicken sandwiches and tiny ice cream cones filled with King's Landing Blood Melon Sorbet.

House Baratheon, which is better known for skewering people than ras el hanout-spiced lamb, was represented by platters of shish kebabs, served with chutneys, relishes and sauces for dipping. A Khaleesi-approved "Dragon's Repast" buffet included ravioli filled with Nantes carrots, veal meatballs, and a black kale salad with toasted farro and pomegranate seeds.

It was grandly, gloriously over-the-top. But those Dark & Stormy cocktails, skewers and lemon cakes are all perfect, doable fare for any home-viewing party this weekend. The Dothraki bouncers are up to you.

MORE 'THRONES'-INSPIRED RECIPES

You'll find plenty of "Game of Thrones"-inspired recipes in Chelsea Monroe-Cassel and Sariann Lehrer's "A Feast of Ice & Fire: The Official Companion Cookbook" (Bantam, $35, 226 pages). George R.R. Martin wrote the introduction to the volume -- it doesn't get any more official than that.
Penned by the writers behind Inn at the Crossroads (www.innatthecrossroads.com), a "Thrones"-inspired food blog, the book covers everything from Winterfell aurochs with roasted leeks to Tyroshi honeyfingers, with medieval and modern-day recipes for each.

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